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PET · Advanced B1 Grammar Structures · Japan

Advanced B1 Grammar Structures for the PET Exam — Japanese candidates

10% of the PET test plan. B1 grammar extension: modals for deduction, wish/if only, gerunds vs infinitives, and comparatives. Calibrated for Japanese candidates.

If you have already studied this content from a textbook, you know the material. The question this page answers is whether you can apply it under exam conditions. Advanced B1 Grammar Structures sits at roughly 10% of the Cambridge Preliminary English Test (B1) content distribution — Advanced B1 grammar structures include: modals for deduction (must be/can't be/might be), wish/if only (unreal situations), gerund vs infinitive choice (enjoy doing/want to do), and comparative/superlative structures. These features distinguish B1 from A2 performance. Pass rates for the PET are published annually by the awarding body and vary by cohort and locale. For Japanese candidates preparing for PET, the calibration of study to local context matters: TOEIC is the dominant English credential in Japan. JLPT is taken by both inbound foreign workers and Japanese students seeking Japanese-language certification.

Pass rates for PET (Japan) are published periodically by the awarding body.

Common failure modes

These are the patterns that cause most candidates to lose marks on this topic. Recognising them in advance is half the work.

  • !Using "must" for deduction and "have to" interchangeably — they have different strength
  • !Gerund/infinitive errors: "I enjoy to swim" instead of "I enjoy swimming"
  • !Incorrect comparative: "more better" instead of "better"

Study tips

  • 1Memorize the 20 most common gerund-taking verbs: enjoy, finish, avoid, consider, suggest, mind, miss, keep, risk, practise.
  • 2Learn the 20 most common infinitive-taking verbs: want, need, hope, plan, decide, agree, refuse, manage, offer, seem.
  • 3Drill deduction modals: must = I'm almost certain; might = possible; can't = impossible.
  • 4日本の受験者の方は、PET の各セクションにおいて時間配分の練習が最も重要です — 模擬試験を本番と同じ条件で繰り返してください。

Sample PET Advanced B1 Grammar Structures questions

These sample items mirror the format and difficulty of real PET questions. Practice with thousands more on the free Koydo question bank.

  1. 1

    She left the office early. She _____ be feeling unwell.

    • AmustCorrect
    • Bcan
    • Cshould
    • Dwould
    Why this answer?

    "Must be feeling" expresses logical deduction — the speaker is almost certain she is unwell based on evidence (leaving early). "Can" is not used for deduction; "should" implies expectation/advice; "would" implies a hypothesis about the future.

Frequently asked questions

How many grammar structures does B1 require compared to A2?
The Cambridge Grammar for B1 adds approximately 15–20 new structures beyond A2, including: all conditional types, passive voice across tenses, reported speech, relative clauses, modal verbs for deduction, wish/if only, gerund/infinitive distinction, and used to/would for past habits.
What is the PET pass rate for Japanese candidates?
Pass rates for PET candidates in Japan are published periodically by the awarding body. Practice questions, full-length simulations, and weak-area drills are the highest-impact way to improve your odds.
How long should Japanese candidates study Advanced B1 Grammar Structures for the PET?
For most candidates, focused mastery of Advanced B1 Grammar Structures requires 20–40 hours of deliberate practice — drilling sample questions, reviewing failure modes, and timing yourself against exam conditions. TOEIC is the dominant English credential in Japan. JLPT is taken by both inbound foreign workers and Japanese students seeking Japanese-language certification. Combine Advanced B1 Grammar Structures study with full-length mock exams in the final two weeks before your test date.

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